Abram Choate, SID
ABILENE, Texas – Jordan Bullard of Howard Payne nailed an extra-point kick in overtime spoiling the Hardin-Simmons Homecoming 48-47 at Shelton Stadium in American Southwest Conference action.
Howard Payne running back Zach Howard rushed for 117 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 attempts, he also caught 2 passes for 32 yards.
The Yellow Jackets used only three plays and 52 seconds to get on the scoreboard first on a 46-yard run by Zach Howard.
Hardin-Simmons scored on their first play from scrimmage and added another just 3 minutes later to take a 7-14 lead.
The Jackets tied the game at the 12:30 mark of the 2nd quarter on a 2-yard run by Zach Howard capping a nine play 59-yard drive.
Two rushing TDs by Hardin-Simmons running back Quinton Jones in the second quarter gave HSU a 27-14 lead. HSU missed the extra-point on the second TD.
Howard Payne was not finished in the first half as QB Jason Lovvorn found Jordan Beard in the endzone for a 22-yard TD with just 52 second remaining in the first half. HSU went into the halftime break with a 27-21 lead.
The Jackets again scored first in the second half on a 35–yard TD pass from Jason Lovvorn to Zach Howard to give HPU a 28-27 lead with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
HSU came right back and scored on the first play when Quinton Jones scored on a 59-yard touchdown run, his third of the game a 2-point pass attempt was knocked away and HSU led 33-28 with 2:11 to play in the 3rd quarter.
In the fourth, HPU's Zach Howard scored his third touchdown of the game with a 26-yard run, the 2-point attempt run failed and HPU led 34-33. HSU came right back with a 12-play 80-yard drive that lasted 6 minutes. HSU's Feaster capped it with a 1-yard quarterback sneak and a 2-point pass to Travis Watson gave the Cowboys a 41-34 lead with 8:51 to play.
HPU came right back with an 11-play 74-yard drive that Nice Sellers capped with a 25-yard touchdown reception from Lovvorn to tie the game at 41. The game went to overtime and HPU won the toss and elected to play defense.
On HSU's first play Feaster found Watson on a 25-yard touchdown pass, but Williamson missed the extra-point. HPU ran into Williamson and he had another shot to knock it through but again missed wide right.
HPU scored on the second play on a Zach Howard 3-yard run. Jordan Bullard's extra-point was good for the win, 48-47. The last Howard Payne win over Hardin-Simmons was in 2002.
Howard Payne QB Jason Lovvorn completed 29-of-43 passes for 349 yards and no interceptions. WR Jordan Beard had 8 catches for 111 and 2 TDs.
Howard Payne will be at home next week for Homecoming taking on Louisiana College.
